15 Mar HALACHICALLY SPEAKING: DRINKING ON PURIM
For some reason, people think that drinking is acceptable at certain times, such as on Simchas Torah, at a Shalom Zochor, at a wedding, and on Purim.
Many people become intoxicated by drinking wine or whiskey on Purim. Is there a mitzvah to get drunk? What are the reasons for drinking on Purim? What are the parameters? Is wine preferred to whiskey? Does it apply to women? Can one fulfill the mitzvah while asleep? When should one drink? These and other issues will be addressed in this issue. We will also discuss the halachic sources for drinking too much wine on Purim and throughout the year.
Introduction – Wine
Wine is associated with many aspects of Jewish life. Shabbos and all the major Yom Tovim, including Rosh Hashanah, requires kiddush with wine. Wine is a drink that “gladdens the heart.” Wine has medicinal properties as well.
Wine in the Torah and Chazal
The posuk tells us that Noach planted a vineyard…and he drank wine, got drunk and uncovered himself. Lot’s daughters gave their father wine to drink so that he would get drunk. Nadav and Avihu are said to have drunk wine when they offered their “strange fire” in the Mishkan. The Medrash says when a person starts drinking wine he feels innocent as a lamb and as complacent as a sheep. After he has a few drinks, he feels as if he is strong like a lion. When he has gone too far he becomes like a pig, wallowing in his own filth. When he becomes drunk he is like a monkey. He thinks he is smart, witty and clever, when in reality he is being laughed at by others. The Gemorah says the tree Adom ate from was a grapevine, because nothing brings grief to this world like wine. The Rambam says it is impossible to serve Hashem with silliness, lightheadedness, and while being drunk. One who is drunk is like he is worshipping avodah zarah. In addition, the Rambam says that one who gets drunk is a sinner, ugly, and loses his wisdom. One is not allowed to enter the Ohel Moed in a drunken state. The Gemorah says that wine was created for two purposes, to comfort mourners and to give the wicked their reward in this world so that they may get their full punishment in the World to Come.
On the other hand, the Gemorah says happiness comes from consuming wine and meat. The Tana D’bei Eliyahu (Zuta) says that, “Wine gives pleasure to old people, makes their hearts happy, refreshes their souls, and illuminates their eyes.” Wine also has a positive effect on the brain and the thinking process. The Gemorah says that old wine is beneficial for the intestines.
Drinking on Purim
The Gemorah says that one is obligated to get drunk on Purim until the point that he does not know the difference between cursed Haman and bless Mordechai. The Gemorah also relates the following story: Rabbah and Rav Zeirah had their Purim seuda together. Rabbah got drunk and killed Rav Zeirah. They prayed for Rav Zeirah and he lived. The next year, when asked to come over for the seuda, Rav Zeirah did not go because one cannot rely on a miracle every time.
This seems to be an odd story; should it be taken literally?
The Maharsha explains that Rabbah did not literally slit Rav Zeirah’s throat. Rather, he kept giving Rav Zeirah drinks until he became sick. Rav Zeirah’s refusal the next year was to avoid a situation of over-indulgence which can be fatal. Obviously, drinking wine is very dangerous if done without a cheshbon.
Harav Shlomo Zalman zt”l suggests that Rabbah embarrassed Rav Zeirah, which is akin to murder.
Halachic Opinions
There are some poskim who maintain that we do not follow the apparent ruling of this incident, and one should not get drunk on Purim. The Meiri says that there is no mitzvah to get drunk and act in a frivolous manner on Purim. However, the majority of poskim do in fact concur with the incident and maintain that one should drink enough wine on Purim to cause drunkenness. The Pri Chadash says that Rav Zeirah should have replied that he will drink a little without actually getting drunk. From the fact that he did not say this we can deduce the halacha that one should get drunk on Purim and the story is valid. The Bach says that even the lenient opinion agrees that one should drink more than usual on Purim.
Drinking More Than Usual
The Pri Chadash says that in our weak generation one should follow the lenient approach and only drink a little more than usual. This opinion is the opinion of other poskim as well.
Not Knowing the Difference Between Cursed Haman and Bless Mordechai
As mentioned above, one should drink until he cannot tell the difference between cursed Haman and bless Mordechai. There are many explanations as to what this means. The Bach understands this as a literal statement, and other poskim agree.
Others say that this comment in the Gemorah should not be taken literally. One opinion says that one should drink to the point that he cannot calculate that the gematria of “cursed is Haman” (in Hebrew) is equivalent to “bless Mordechai“(in Hebrew).
The Taz explains that we have to give thanks to Hashem for saving us from Haman’s evil plot. We must also thank Him for the additional kindness of elevating Mordechai. We should drink until the point that we cannot discern between these two acts of kindness.
The Sefas Emes says one does not have an obligation to be drunk to the point of not knowing…. However, one is supposed to busy himself with party on Purim and as long as he knows the difference between… he has to party and after that point he does not. However, one has fulfilled his drinking even before he reaches the point where he does not know….
Harav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l says people think that the miracle of saving the Jews was great and the fall of Haman was not a big miracle. Therefore, we drink until we do not know the difference between the two and they are both the same great miracle.
Harav Moshe Shternbuch Shlita says the following: there are different time periods in life. Sometimes Haman is on top and sometimes Haman is on the bottom. Sometimes our enemies beat us and the hand of Hahsem is hidden. Sometimes it is “bless Mordechai” and Hashem’s hand is visible, so to speak. On Purim we have a mitzvah to drink to the point that we do not know the difference between the two stages. We have to drink to know that all is from Hashem. This is the point of Purim. Even if Hashem’s name is not mentioned in the Megillah, everything is from Hashem.
Drinking More Than Usual –
Falling Asleep
The Rama says one should drink more than usual and thus fall asleep. This is the opinion of other poskim as well. However, sleeping without drinking at all does not accomplish anything.
Getting Drunk is Not Allowed
The Orchos Chaim (and others) says drinking to the point of getting drunk is the greatest aveirah one can do since it causes giluy arayos, murder, etc. One should only drink more than he usually does.
Obligation or Mitzvah
Many maintain that there is no obligation to drink, but if one does so he has fulfilled a mitzvah. However, some argue that the term chayiv in the Gemorah and Shulchan Aruch clearly indicate that it is in fact an obligation. Therefore, the Aruch Hashulchan says there is an obligation is to drink, but every person has the leeway to choose how much he wishes to drink.
Avoid Drinking
When one drinks to excess, he cannot perform mitzvos properly. Therefore, one who knows that by drinking he will not properly perform the mitzvos of netilas yadayim, bentching, and mincha or maariv, it is better than he should not get drunk. One who wishes to drink should make sure the mitzvos are accomplished first and then he can drink.
Reasons to Drink
Why do we drink on Purim? One reason is offered by the Avudraham (quoted by others as well). The story of the megillah was influenced by wine. Vashti was removed from her role as queen through drinking of wine. Esther took her place through a party. So too the fall of Haman was through wine. Therefore, we drink on Purim to remember that the miracles happened to the Jews through wine.
The Chasam Sofer explains that the Jews in the time of Achashveirosh attended his seuda and got drunk. Therefore, we have a mitzvah to drink to rectify the aveirah which was committed at that time,
Harav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt’l says that Purim was established during the time of golus and it is not possible to be joyous while we are in golus. Therefore, we drink to forget about the fact that we are in golus and then we can be joyous properly.